Self-contained fuel shut-off device



June 24, 1958 G. w. CORNELIUS 2,840,359

SELF-CONTAINED FUEL SHUT-OEE DEVICE Filed March 9, 1956 INVENToR. vs 144 belva/a5 United States Patent y 2,840,359 SELF-CONTAINED FUEL SHUT-oFF DEVICE George W. Cornelius, Portuguese Bend, Calif., assignor to Holley CarburetorCompany, Van Dyke, Mich.

Application March 9, 19st, serial No. 510,504 s claims. (cn zer-41) The present inventionv relates `generally tol internal combustion engines and more particularly tol Va novel and improved fuel shut-offdevice for use therewith.

`It has been heretoforedetermined that the largest percentage of unburned products offcombustion are exhausted from the engineV of anautomotive vehicle during decelerationuthereof. Such unburned 'products of combustion constitute a prime source 'of the'so-called smog which exists in and around the princi-pal population centers of the country. The harmful'eiect'of this smog upon animate and inanimate objects are very 'wellfknown There presently exist several` types of automatic shut-off devices for stopping the flow of fuel to an engine'during deceleration. These devices generally eutilizeha member attached to the engines carburetor Afor blocking l'thegow l of idling fuel thereinto and operatively connected to auxiliary control devices, the latter 'in turn being connected to various elements of the engine. l

yIt is a major object of the present l'invention to provide a fuel shut-olf device which is entirely self-contained, requiring no external controls in order to effect its operation.

Another object is to provide a self-'contained `fuel shutoff device which is positive and fool-proofinV operation. A further object is to provide a self-contained 'fuel shut-olf device which is simple in ydesign and rugged of construction whereby it may' afford a lbng and luseful service life. 'A

Yet another object is to provide a self-contained'fuel shut-off device which is kcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture. 'i

Another object is to provide a' self-.contained fuel shuto device having a minimum "amount of moving parts whereby it may provide maintenancefree"operation 'over a long :period of time. f

An additional object isrto provide a self-contained fuel shut-off device which may, be readily installed upon any conventional internal combustiony engine :Without requiring modification of such engine.

Yet a further Objectis to provide a self-containedfuel shut-off device having an 'integral idling4 adjustment.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the'following detailed description,` whenxtaken in conjunctionlwith the appended drawings, wherein: u

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of self-contained fuel shut-'olf ldevice embodying the .present invention; n' f Y Figure 2 is anV enlarged central sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure k1 showing the `parts of the device disposed `in their normal position; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vview similar to Figiitrelll but showing the partsof the device` disposed in a position to vshut offth'e flow of fuelto the intakemanifold.

Referring toA the drawingsmand particularly yFigurel thereof, therpreferred form of'self-contained fuel shut- 0E device F is shown mounted upon a carburetor support .S` disposed below the engines-carburetor (not shown). The support S is formed with a vertical bore "ice 10 :wherein is pivotally mounted the engines throttle valve 12. The walls of the support S are formed with an idling ;well 14 for conducting fuel from thecarburetor to a point below the throttle valve 12 during idling of the engine. The lower portion of the idling well 14 intersects an internally threaded bore 16. This bore 16 threadedly receives the inner portion of the fuel shuvolf vdevice F.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the fuel 'shut-off device F includes a body, generally designated 20, lixedly secured to the support S; a col-lar 22, aligned with and adjacent to the body 20; a meteringpin, generally designated 24, secured to the collar 22; lresilientmeans, such as a spring 26, biasing the collar 22 away from the body 20; and pressure-responsive means, such as a` cylindrical metallic bellows 28, interconnecting the body 20 and the collarl 22. The body 20 is formed with a longitudinal passage 30 which intersects 'theidling well14. The metering pin 24 is slidably disposed within this passage 30 for longitudinal movement therein. Its innerA end 'is formed with blocking means, such as a`frustro-conical surface 325 which normally permitsY fuel to'ow through the idling well 14 into the bore 10 of the carburetor support S, vthe l i deceleration of the engine, the intakemanifold vacuum will reach a sufciently high value as `to effect contraction 'More particularly, thefbody20 isf of annularfcross` section and includes an externally lthreaded nipple'' at its front end. The rear portion of the body iscoaxially formed with a boss 38 for'receiving Athe clamp 40 of a stop member, generally designated 42, to be described more fully hereinafter. Y A radially extending front ybellows retainer 44 is formed at the rearof the boss A'38. The collar 22 is also annular in cross-section-and-lit is centrally formed with a threaded bore48. The 'rear por tion of the collar 22 is forrnetpl'with a rear'bellows'retainer 50. The bore 48 threadedly carries an adjustment sleeve 52 which is threaded both' internally and externally. A lock nut 54 is provided for this adjustment Sleeve. The body 20 and collar 22 are coaxially interconnected yby means of the metallic bellows Y28, the front end lof the bellows` being rigidly secured to the front bellows' retainer 44 and the rear thereof being rigidly securedto the; rear bellows retainer S0. y l i v The rear portion of the metering pin 24jisv thread'edly secured within the threaded boreY 5.6 of the 'adjustment sleeve 52.V The rear end ofthe metering pin 24 is formed with aknurled head 58 for usef'in ieffectinggrelativerotation between the vmeteringfpiri 'and'-the adjustment sleeve 50. locking means between'the `adjustment sleeve and the metering pin. The passage` ni'a'nsfr34 includes yfaVlongitudinal 'bore 62 and Va plurality of Vradially extending ports 64 which interconnect the bore 62 With'the interior ofthe bellows 28. Preferably, one or more sealing' 'rings'A 66 will be interposed between the metering pinV and the passage 30 ofthe body'Zll.

The stop member 42includes agenerfally Ul'shap'ed Y bracket 68 which extends, rearwardly 'from theAclfarnpfMly that fis securedto the boss38iof the body 20. 'f 'l;`heark leg ot the bracket 68 is formed with a threaded bore A helical compression spring-60 serves'- asl a Y 3 Y 70 *wherein is `disposed ran nut 14 isprovided for this adjustment bolt.

, In operation, the spring 26 will constantly bias the collar 22 and hence the meteringpin 24 away from the body `201during normal operation of `the engine. During this time theidling fuel owingthrough the idling well 14 will `be free to enter `the bore `10 of the carburetor support Stw During deceleration of the engine, howeverztheV adjustment bolt 72. A lock interposed between the outer portion of said stop member relative to the drawings whereby the frustro-conical sur- ,v

face 3210i the metering pin will seatragainst the outer peripheryof the inlet b ore 35i.` f'VIhe-tl'ow` of fuel through the lidling well 14 tothe carburetor support bore 10 will thereby be effectivelyblocked. At Ythe conclusion of the decelerationperiod, the resulting drop in` intake manifold pressure will permit the spring 26to return the collar 22 and metering pin 24` to `their normal positions. The inner end ofthe metering pin 24 is seen to extend into the confines of the bore 10 of the` carburetor support S a suic'ient distance that its longitudinal` borev62 will always be exposed Vto the' `full magnitude of the intake Hmanifold vacuum.V

It shouldbe observedthat `outward movement of the metering pin 124 will be positively limited by theV abutment `of its head 58Vwith the adjustment bolt 7,2 off the stop member 42. 'I'hisbecomesI especially important when the automotveyehicle is operated` at higher elevations since it prevents theoccurrence of an excessively lean fuel mixture. It4 should additionally be observed that the idling speed ,oftheu enginemay be adjusted by rotation `of the head 58 so ,as to adjustthe spacing between the frustroconicalsurface 32 and Athefouter periphery of the inlet bore `35'.,` From the foregoing description it will be apparentwthat the `self-contained fuel shut-off device F of the present invention will provide excellent results with a minimum amount of maintenance. `It should alsobe observedA that these results are accomplished without requiring any auxiliary control means whatsoever. f j

It will `also be tapparentthat various modifications an changes may be made with respect to the foregoing description without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

1. A self-contained fuel shut-offdevice for use with an internalx combustion engine having an intake manifold, carburetor means formed with a bore wherein a throttle valve is mounted and an idling fuel conduit that -intersects said bore below said throttlevalve,` comprising; a body lixedly .securable to said carburetor means-and formed with a passage intersecting said idling fuel conduit; a collar aligned with and adjacent to the outer end` of said body; a metering,` pin longitudinally slidably` disposed within `said passage, the end of said ,metering pin-remote from said collar being formed` with blocking means for stopping the flow of fuel through said idling conduit into said bore, said `metering pin `also being formed` `with passage means` 4open to said bore below said throttle valve; a coil spring coaxial with said body and interposed between said body and said collar so as to constantly bias said collar `outwardly away fromsaid body wherebyV said` blocking means will normally permit fuel to low through said idling conduit `into said bore; thread means interposed between theouter portion of said pin and said :A

and the outer portion of said metering pin so as to limit the outward movement undergone by said pin relative to said body; and a cylindrical bellows coaxially interposed between said body and said collar, the space enclosed by said bellows communicating with said passage means of said metering pin whereby upon deceleration of said engine said bellows will contract so as to urge said collar and said metering pin towards said body in order that said blocking means may temporarily stop the flow of fuel through said idling fuel conduit.

2. A self-contained fuel shut-off device as set forth in claim l wherein said adjustment means includes an adjustment bolt coaxial with said metering pin.

3. A self-contained fuel shut-off device for use with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, carburetor means formed with a bore wherein a throttle valve is mounted and an idling fuel conduit that intersects said borelbelow said throttle valve, comprising: a body lixedlyy securable to said carburetor means and formed `with a passage intersecting said idling fuel conduit; aocollar aligned with and adjacent to the outer end of said body;` an adjustment sleeve coaxial with said collar, said sleeve being internally threaded; a metering pin tbreadably disposed within said adjustment sleeve and having a portion longitudinally slidably disposed within said passage,'the end of said metering pin proximate said body beingv formed with blocking means for stopping the flow of fuel through said idling conduit into the bore of said'carburetor means, said metering pin also being formed with passage means open to the bore of said carburetor means `below 'said throttle valve; coil spring means `coaxialwith said metering pin and interposed between said body and said collar so as to constantly bias said collar outwardly away from said body whereby said blocking means will normally permit fuel to'flow through said idling conduit into said bore; a stop member extending from said body outwardly to a point aligned with the path followed by the outer portion of said metering pin, said stop member limiting the outward movement undergone by said metering pin relative to said body;

. adjustmentv means interposed between the outer portion of saidfstop member and the outer portion of said meterin'g pin so as to limit the outward movement undergone by said pin relative to said body; and a cylindrical bellows coaxially interposed between said body and said collar, the space closed by said bellows communicating` with said passage means of said metering pin whereby upon decelerationofsaid engine said bellows will contract so as to urge said collar and said metering pin towards said body in ordenthat saidblocking means may temporarily stop the'ow of fuel through said idling fuel conduit.

[4.QA' self-contained fuel shut-'off device as set `forth inclaim 3 wherein said adjustment means includes an adjustment boltl coaxial. with said metering pin.

5. A self-contained fuel shut-off device as set forth in claim 4 whereinv the end of said metering pinremote from said body is formed with an adjusting head and a coaxial coil spring is interposed between said adjustment sleeve and said adjusting head `to restrain said metering pin against unrestrictedrotation relative to said adjustment sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

